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The Frenchiest of French Design

If you are a longtime reader of Cote de Texas you may remember back in 2008 (sure you do!) I did a story on Gerrie Bremermann, naming her to my “Top Ten Designers” List (I never did name the last two!)

In that story about Bremermann, I showed this house that she had designed – a few pages from a Veranda story from their May 2003 issue. The house was owned by a couple who lived in New Orleans. While childless, they had purchased this house and hired Bremermann to decorate it, but by the time the job was finished – they had three tiny children!

The house was Victorian and they totally renovated it – making it less formal and more child friendly.

The stair hall had this fabulous banquette piled high with pillows from BViz. The mirror and sconces are so typical Bremermann. And I adore the two French chairs and tiny table. Ten years later and this looks as good today as it did then – classic design never dates.

I only have a few pictures from the story – here in the library, Bremermann used antique French chairs and a mass of wonderful books. Love the leather chair next to that fabulous desk – a mirrored Louis XV bureau plat!

In the newly added kitchen, an armoire door was used for the elevator. A Directoire table and chairs complete the room. Beautiful styling with a large blue and white pot.

In a child's room, the Directoire bed wears it's original scalloped toile fabric. At the window, a scalloped, checked fabric was used.

It was obvious the owners were major Francophiles – and very well versed ones too.

Just a few weeks later, I wrote a followup story HERE about the southern California super luxurious and exclusive spa Cal-a-Vie, which these homeowners happened to own. Cal-a-Vie is known for their beautiful accommodations which are filled with French antiques – making it a most unusual spa.

Cut to several years later – this month’s Architectural Digest features this same family in their new house – located in Houston. They moved from New Orleans to this house designed in 1930 by the renowned architect John F. Staub. The first owner was also a Francophile – so the house was a dream come true for the homeowner. She agreed to move from her beloved hometown, New Orleans, only if her husband could get this house for their family. He did – and the rest is history.

The house was a rare gem as it was almost untouched since it was built, but that also meant that everything needed updating – all the boring essentials like electrical and plumbing and roofs were replaced. The house is built on a golf course and is in an elongated V shape – with two wings fanning off from the center entrance hall. Instead of Bremermann, they hired the popular Houston designer Kara Childress to do the interiors, along Newbery Campa Architects.

Though they first spotted the house over 12 years ago, it is still being worked on. Several important rooms were added on for the active family with their three children – a family room and conservatory. More family friendly rooms are slated to built in the future.

The 10 bedroom house is grand – more grand than their previous one in New Orleans. In fact, it’s one of the grandest private houses I’ve seen. I can’t imagine how much fun (and hard work) the owners had with Kara – procuring priceless antiques for the house from all over Europe. This is a dream project – a once in a lifetime job - and one that we all dream of!

If you didn’t see the Architectural Digest story, be sure to visit their web site or, better yet, buy the issue to view this story. If you have seen the magazine, as usual, there’s more to the story than just this house….so be sure to read to the finish!

The center entrance hall sits between the two wings that flank each side. The unique shape of the house allows rooms to have windows on two and even three sides – which makes for wonderful light – no matter what time of the day it is.

And the back of the house that borders a golf course. The entrance hall sits in the middle of the two wings.

Well, what can I say? I would move into the entry hall and be happy just living in this space. Gorgeous stone stairs with stunning original ironwork. I adore the Italian settee with its green silk upholstery, but it’s the oval portraits that just send me over the edge. And I love the painting over the settee. To die for!!!!!!

The ballroom was turned into the living room – the original chandeliers and boiseries remain. There are tall windows on each side of the room – which is wonderful for the light. Inset between windows are mirrors which reflect even more light in the space. So sophisticated, but not stuffy!

The opposite side of the living room – notice the gorgeous stool.

The paneled library. The chandelier was once Napoleon III’s. The ceiling is 16th century painted canvas panels. Incredible. Of course my eye goes right to the two antique barometers and the globe in the corner. Fortuny curtains.

In this corner – is a desk and a table. Hmmm. Recognize that leather chair?

My favorite room is the music room with its blush sofas and dainty, feminine antique chairs. The chandelier and mirror and sconces are just so beautiful – as is the rug. Why can’t the White House be this beautiful??? I mean – the chandelier alone!!! Drool worthy.

A corner in the music room with the day bed and beautiful console table with darling model sized chair.

The dining room is another favorite with its stone floor and chandelier that is original to the house. I love the skirted table with just a hint of trim showing! The chairs are Georgian and are in a blush velvet – so soft and feminine. The moldings are gorgeous in this room – and it’s hard to tell – but, is that a painted or marble wainscot? So elegant – yet at the same time – inviting.

The kitchen has been totally updated with its stone countertops from Chateau Domingue and chic painted cabinets.

The conservatory was added onto the house – it’s where the family eats breakfast. Remember that blue and white pot???

Of course there is a wine cellar – love the stone walls and floors.

The powder room – with an antique mirror that is just beautiful. OK OK OK – every piece in this house is beautiful and gorgeous! I love the sink too. I love their taste – I love every single piece they have picked. Not every antique is beautiful, not every old chandelier is pretty – but this couple seems to pick only the prettiest of the pretty.

The master bedroom. Beautiful settee at the end of the bed – love the headboard too. And I love the piece above the bed!

The master bedroom suite with more beautiful paneling.

Daughter’s room. Remember the room with the blue and white lit a la polonaise bed? Here’s another one! I love this one – it’s so authentic looking – just perfection. Love the blush mixed with the blues.

The most fabulous part of the estate is the antique chapel – from Chateau Domingue, of course! – imported from France. Could you die? Imagine your daughter getting married in your own chapel out back? Or, never having to go away to church again? You just walk outside and have your own service! Of course then your husband would have to give the sermons and you probably are sick of hearing those already.

Be sure to visit Architectural Digest to see many more photographs of this estate, especially of the grounds. Better yet, go buy this issue. It’s an incredible one – there’s a Miles Redd house for another Houston couple in the Bahamas and there’s a Suzanne Rheinstein house. Arch Digest is just getting better and better under Margaret Russell, but then, who ever doubted it? She’s the best in the business.

To continue the story….

The couple who live in this fabulous house in Houston, also live at Cal-a-Vie, a spa north of San Diego, California in the hills.

In 1998, the couple bought an auction item for a stay at the destination spa and fell in love – the area reminded them of Europe and Provence, especially. It took the then owners two years to agree to sell Cal-a-Vie, but as soon as they did, the new owners began renovating, changing the décor to fit their French aesthetic. The updating is constant – a job never finished – and the beauty of the spa reflects their labored efforts. Cal-a-Vie, located on over 220 acres, is gorgeous. I dare say it might be the most beautifully decorated spa there is, but then I’m partial to French décor. The couple have spent years bringing over containers filled with antiques from Europe, earmarked for the spa. Every room at Cal-a-Vie is decorated with these pieces handpicked by the couple.

Cal-a-Vie – showing the main pool and in the background the windmill and chapel.

The guest rooms look like a Provencal village with their tiled roofs and stucco walls. So charming!

The oldest structure in San Diego County is this 400 year old church from France that the owners imported and rebuilt on the property.

You can rent out the spa for a wedding weekend of three days. When not hosting events, the chapel is used for meditation and yoga.

Inside the chapel – I only wish I could have a destination wedding here for Elisabeth!! Can we turn the church into a Jewish temple for one weekend?

Next to the chapel, the owners recently added an early 18th century orangery from the same Provencal convent that the chapel came from! Receptions are held here. Beautiful fountain, beautiful stone!

There are three fireplaces in the orangery.

And set for a reception.

One of the main reception rooms at the spa is filled with French, Belgian and Italian antiques – handpicked by the owners on trips to Europe. Ready to move right in!

One of the lobbies. I spy an antique barometer! I’m thinking the owner loves barometers as much as I do.

And another gorgeous barometer in the corner. Stunning. Just stunning. The floors are wonderful – 18th century? The owners have a rule – no more than two chandeliers can be alike.

A new dining room and kitchen were recently debuted at the spa.

Inside the windmill – it is filled with Provencal furniture.

The rooms are all different – decorated with the antiques that were chosen in Europe. Notice the molding around the back of the bed. And the ceiling. Charming!

I love this room – with boiserie and antique wood floors and beams.

The owners, along with their 3 children, take working vacations at Cal-a-Vie. Over the years, they kept hearing from guests who complained about the children – why pay all that money to get away and then have to deal with 3 children running around? The family used to bunk up in the old house – with one bedroom. Hard to believe after seeing their 10 bedroom house in Houston! But, eventually they decided they really needed to build their own house – away from the spa – but still on the property. This way the children's noises wouldn’t disturb the peace any longer. Plus, they needed more room.

They hired Michael Carbine of Mac Maison for the structural work and Laurie Steichen for the decorating. Their new house is fabulous – much more laid back and not quite as dressy as their Houston house, but it is still every bit as sophisticated. Filled with antiques – it’s hard to decide which house is prettier! They are both so different and both so special!

The house is built high on a hill with panoramic views of the spa’s property.

Most everything was sourced in Europe by the owners. Both the husband and wife are lovers of French design.

In the living room – the two pairs of reclaimed French armoire doors are the focal point. They are just stunning. Gorgeous mantel, gorgeous mirrors, gorgeous chandelier. Each piece in both their homes is so pretty! These two truly have wonderful taste. I have yet to see a chandelier I didn’t love!

The dining room has another skirted table – and another gorgeous chandelier filled with macaroni beading.

A vignette with a painted mural, water gilded candlesticks and a putti lamp – all atop an antique console. What’s not to love?

The library is incredible. A mantel was repurposed into a bookshelf and the boiserie was painted to match. Those leather chairs!!!!!!!! Love the round portrait. I love this room!!!!!!!!!!!

Another fabulous vignette with the library reflected in the mirror.

The loggia – love the statue next to the fireplace. Everything is so pretty! I can’t take it!!!!!!

The family room is so warm and so French looking! Behind the sofa is a pool table. Notice there are three different chandeliers in this room alone – and it looks wonderful! Love the reclaimed wood ceiling and beams.

Of course the foosball table is vintage – Restoration Hardware just got a new idea! Love the sail boat.

Close up view of the dining area of the family room.

Actually, their master bedroom at Cal-a-Vie is dressier than the Houston bedroom. That’s a surprise. Love the shades!!! And love the chandelier – and the lamps! Wow, Michael Smith fabric was used on the bed – another surprise!

And, finally, the family has their own swimming pool away from the spa – so as not to disturb the guests.

So…which house do you like best? The original New Orleans house when the couple first married, the large French styled house in Houston, or the more laid back, but just as gorgeous house at Cal a Vie?

I vote for the Cal a Vie house only because I love that area and I love the somewhat more relaxed atmosphere of the house.

I woke up at 2:30amPST and couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to check your blog. Thank you for this wonderful article. Love all the homes, but since I live in California I choose the Cal a Vie home. The setting is magnificent. They really selected beautiful antiques and architectural details for the home and the spa. I can't wait to pour over this entry in detail. Now I am going back to bed and dream of French antiques.

How did AD ever approve the pic on the golf course? Crape myrtles not, in the least, ready for prime time. Too messy & too thick. A swallowtail butterfly must be able to meander thru them. Though, with their age, it is an issue created by the previous owners.

The buildings, homes, rooms? Enrich the spirit just looking at them.

Had to laugh at their daybed by the pool. Cannot imagine them reclining or sitting still.......

Do you think anything could be done to improve the Crape Myrtles or do they just need to be replaced. I have very mature Crape myrtles that look much like the ones shown in the photos and besides regular pruning (not crape murder) I felt that was all I could do.

Joni, Another wonderful post - love it! My vote is for their home at the spa. Michael Carbine (who himself deserves a hugely long post!) is a genius at repurposing architectural elements, as well as any/all design work in general. A Michael Carbine home here in New Orleans can barely hit the market before it is sold. Incredible. Also, I have always admired Laurie Steichen's work so much. The two of them together have made the spa home a visual treat. I have to say that for me, the Houston home is much, much too busy, foofy, fussy and faux-regal. Not my cup of tea. Way too overdone and showy for my taste. It flaunts its grandeur, and I think would be so much prettier if the interiors were reflected a lighter hand. On a second topic, is it just me, or is anyone else finding the photo quality of A/D going down the tubes? Month after month my mags. arrive and many of the photos (not all, but many) have a very flat 1960's quality to them -- dull, lack dimension, color is poor. Not sure if they have cut back on printing expenses, or if I am just receiving lousy copies. Given the paper quality, sure wish they would get the photo quality back to what it once was. The Miles Redd spread in the current issue was awful - at least my copy. If I were the designers and homeowners, I would not be too awfully thrilled on how things are appearing on occasion. Joni, as always, great post. Love all your research and hard work!

Geez Louise. Can you say more money than God? When you can have a closed quarry re-opened to mine the same limestone as your 1930's mansion. . . For my tastes, I'd be quite content in that bedroom and sitting room with the balcony at the spa.

I loved all of it!. I can't see 3 children running around.They have so much money but they also have good taste. Alot of times it is not so.Please show more of these places. I get "little" ideas for my home.I have a split level in the suburbs, but I can dream can 't I?

Cal a Vie for me! (I wish) Joni, I remember your original post on the spa and fell hard for it then and often reread it. I think the furnishings and lighting in both houses are stunning as well as the art. But, I do like the more informal Cal a Vie. Fantastic post!!xoMimi

I think I prefer the New Orleans house. Bremmerman is one of my top ten designers as well. She is hard to beat! While the Houston home is beautiful, it just would not be cozy and warm enough for me. My second fav would be the California house.

Amazing the life some folks live....the Cal a Vie house is wonderful, just wonderful. All the chandeliers leave drool on the chin! The house here in Houston, surely there was more to the kitchen! Mine isn't much smaller. Will need to buy the mag to see. As usual, you certainly give us plenty to enjoy!

The walls, flooring and kitchen are amazing. Everything else is a bit to fussy for me. But when you are a millionaire and can afford all that it is totally different. The homeowner don't lift a finger they just give orders! Your research and blog is always a pleasure to read. Anticipating your next post is like getting a new issue of Veranda... love it!

Wow, those are some houses! I agree with others, the Houston house is WAY too fussy. Over the top and almost dated looking. I like the original New Orleans best. In my opinion, they should have hired Gerrie Bremmerman again!!! The spa house is nice too though, very pretty and tastefully done. But I do have to say, looking at all of this grandeur and the amount of money it cost, does anyone else think they might be charging just a little too much to go to their spa?!!!!!

I love the beds but wow, where do you get the idea that french people live/decorate like this? There's no restraint here, no elegance. It's very over the top and suffocating. Sure, they have more money than God and have some lovely things - some of which likely cost more than my house - but it's still "very rich Americans doing French" and it screams it loud and clear.I agree, the Cali house is the best of the three.Sherry

I am sort of appalled by the decadence, actually. I love houses and fine things as much as the next girl (hence I happily read this blog) but I can't look at all of this without my stomach turning a bit. It's too much. There are people who have nothing out there.Kate

I love,love to look at beautiful homes,drool and dream, but these homes depress me more than anything. Who are these people? A young family please, no real children live anywhere near these homes.I am not a jealous person and am happy for other who have done well BUT, This is way too much!!!!! It's sick too much. I think of the cost a just one of their lampshades x 150. Maybe I have a problem!

Which is my favorite???? I can't decide.....all are beautiful! But the best part of this post is your comment, Joni, about the chapel in the Houston home and husbands giving the sermon. You make me laugh! I love your blog because your posts are incredibly detailed and you are so funny! Thanks once again.

omg- wow. New Orleans house hands down, followed by Cal a Vie. As much as I love to look at Texas sized houses, the Houston one seemed a bit, well, too "too" for my taste. Thanks for posting and clearly they have extraordinary beautiful taste.-linda,ny

Joni, truth be told this will take me weeks to digest it is THAT good and THAT spectacular and beautiful! So glad you shared this! I've had so many emails about Gerrie and I truly didn't understand exactly who she was so I haven't paid much attention to them. Not now! This has opened my eyes tremendously! LOVED the home in New Orleans and of course that's what I'm partial too since my daughter lives there but wow…this new home in Houston is over the top, drop dead gorgeous! And yes…you are so right about it being the coveted dream job! Thanks so much for sharing this fabulous post! Can't wait to have more time to just linger over all of the wonderful pictures!

I am sure if you can afford the fee, Cal a Vie would turn that chapel into a wedding venue for any faith on the planet. The houses are all works of art, but I like the rooms in the spa itself. They seem more livable somehow.

As my mother said, to which I concurred, "is it any wonder there was a French Revolution?" The level of self-indulgence displayed in both homes is mind-blowing. Gorgeous? Yes. My preference - Cal A Vie. My hope - spend more of that money on charity, rather than another piece of art or furniture.

Amazeballs!!!! 2 stunning homes. Joni one of your best posts! I've heard of that spa and knew the owners were Houstonians, but wow, just wow!!!!Thank you Joni for sharing the article and all the background information.Beth

Hi Joni - love all your posts! I am a blogger Flintstone, but have a question for you. if we are redoing our living room and are just going to have a couch (slipcovered probably from, gasp, restoration hardware) and 2 chairs...which 2 chairs would you pick? there are so many gorgeous chairs...but i'm trying to find chairs that look like a decorator picked them, but that also pass the husband comfort test (sigh!). any thoughts you have would be much appreciated...i LOVE your taste!

Not that this wasn't filled with sumptous eye candy as usual for you..... I would have broken it up in three parts... There is so much to digest and I want to see all the details. It would take me over a hour or two to go through and appreciate the work you put in on this......I like to comment on things I like and there were scads of them here. It is spectacular and so is Cal A Vie! The Houses in Houston are continuing to blow me away............ We are getting more and more clients from California.........Thank you for a truly spectacular post. I really did like the blush hues used in the Houston house........... Maryanne xo

Joni thank you for spending the time to bring this post to us. I like all of the houses and I have decided that I would like to own "one of each". I have been following Gerrie Bremermann for years and I have always used her concept for just about everything I do in my design choices. I always start with the creams, whites and caramels and then add in the little bits of color--like the apricots, ballet slipper pinks, watermelon rose, and sage green -- and I never forget the Nancy Lancaster's "butta yellow" when needed. Gerrie is a fantastic designer and self taught to boot and she is one great example of how no one needs to waste their money to be a card carrying member of ASID to learn how to succeed in this field. But then again she is from the south-- if we are lucky enough to be born with a silver spoon in our mouth down here -- there is usually a hefty serving of "fine taste" in that spoon ---- other examples of fine design born in the south would be Charlotte Moss from Richmond Virginia --- Miles Redd from Atlanta -- and Bobby McAlpine from Alabama---Yes, It is good to be from the South where fine taste is plentiful and the back roads are full of fine fabrics ---silks -- mohair velvets-- silk velvets and damask for $5.00 to $10.00 a yard. Joni, I am so grateful to you for your exceptionally fine taste in decorating and for your willingness to share your insight --- that inspires me to hit the back roads and bring home the goods to make fine living a reality for my family. I do wish you would consider moving from Texas to somewhere between Charlotte N.C. and Atlanta where people here could avail themselves of your services and you would be nearer the "pile" of home furnishings makers and outlets that exists within a two hour drive of High Point. You would have to change your name though--- maybe to Cote de Georgia ???? Just think of all the sweet ice tea with lemon!!!!!

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I can't believe this home is only a few miles from my home, and my daughter used to work in the dining room and kitchen serving the most fabulous, good for you food ever. Watched that house go up, but it's pretty well hidden very high on a hill, sure helps the home prices in my neighborhood, dream of one day being a guest...thanks for sharing what fabulous decor is right in our backyard...

Wow what a pretty home that is given in the above pic and I also want to get this type of pretty interior of my home and this prefect interior definitely increases the conservatory prices of this home........

Thank you for another in-depth design analysis. I think your blogs are better than taking another design school class. You could charge for them!! I love all these properties. Each has soul, depth, character and a magical lightness. Made me swoon!!

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